Filipino's must leave Bahrain

By AFP

MANILA (AFP) - The Philippines on Tuesday advised its 31,000 citizens in Bahrain to leave the Gulf state after troops from neighboring countries moved in to help the ruling monarchy quell anti-government protests.

"We are urging 31,000 Filipinos to restrict movements to only those absolutely essential and to voluntarily depart the country," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis told reporters.

He said embassy staff in Manama had been in contact with Filipino community leaders there and briefed them on contingency plans.

"We are hopeful the political situation will stabilise, but precautionary measures are in place," he said.

Armed forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rolled into Bahrain on Monday to help the government there deal with pro-democracy protesters.

An estimated nine million Filipinos work abroad, and their dollar remittances have traditionally fuelled the local economy.

Many of these workers are in the Middle East.

Last week, the government also told its 1,400 citizens in Yemen to leave over rising political violence there.

More than half of the 26,000 Filipinos in Libya were also evacuated last month, with the rest opting to stay, officials said.

source: yahoonews.com

Bahrain and Qatar "Friendship Causeway"

The “Friendship Causeway” —a long dreamed-of 24-mile, double-lane bridge between the two Gulf nations—received a major kickstart recently with the announcement that a new company will form to raise money for and build the project, expected to cost US$2.7 billion.

The causeway, it’s hoped, will spark a new era of cooperation and friendship through improved economic activity and increased tourism between Bahrain and Qatar. Feasibility studies are complete and approved with construction expected to last five years. The causeway will commence near Manama and make its way along Bahrain’s eastern coast out over Gulf waters and ending at Ras Ashiraj, Qatar. When finished, it will be the longest fixed link causeway in the world.

The Friendship Causeway is part of a broad initiative of infrastructure improvements being planned and commissioned by the Bahraini government to solidify the Kingdom’s place as “Gateway to the Gulf.”
“U.S and other international businesses operating from Bahrain will benefit greatly from projects like the Friendship Causeway that provide modern access to regional markets. Bahrain will continue to lead the GCC in infrastructure developments that make our nation more attractive to business and tourist alike,” added Ambassador Belooshi.

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